Israeli Political Roundup: Netanyahu Will Fight Sharon, Still Apparently Committed to Installing Left-Wing Government
Fresh off his humiliating defeat in the Likud Central Committee and knowing that he can't possibly win an election, right-wing Likud backbencher Benjamin Netanyahu is now looking to bring down his own party's government out of spite for Sharon:
In a showdown that could lead to early elections, MK Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) will vote against the new round of ministerial appointments expected to come before the Knesset for approval on Monday, and Likud "rebels" are threatening to keep Sharon from winning a majority in the vote. Sharon will bring before the plenum his appointments of Ehud Olmert as full-time finance minister as well as MK Roni Bar-On and Deputy Minister Ze'ev Boim to ministers.
Remember: bringing down the current Sharon government is almost certain to result in a more leftist government after the next election. Sharon, being further left than most of the Likud rebels committed to bringing him down, isn't really bothered by that.
In a showdown that could lead to early elections, MK Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) will vote against the new round of ministerial appointments expected to come before the Knesset for approval on Monday, and Likud "rebels" are threatening to keep Sharon from winning a majority in the vote. Sharon will bring before the plenum his appointments of Ehud Olmert as full-time finance minister as well as MK Roni Bar-On and Deputy Minister Ze'ev Boim to ministers.
Remember: bringing down the current Sharon government is almost certain to result in a more leftist government after the next election. Sharon, being further left than most of the Likud rebels committed to bringing him down, isn't really bothered by that.
